Can you name the player and the year the last North Bay area player was selected in the NHL Entry Draft?
The last area player selected in the seven round annual event was Matt Marquardt, who went 194h overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Marquardt played in a prospects tournament with the Blue Jackets, but was traded to the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins organizations before become a free agent.
Marquardt, who turns 29 in July, finished his second season with the ECHL’s Florida Everblades this spring.
He has never dressed for a regular season NHL game.
Ah yes, North Bay has been teased by the Draft in the past decade.
Former 2012 OHL Priority Selection first round pick Brett Hargrave was considered a shoe-in pick a few years back before injuries hampered the now North Bay Battalion forward’s development.
2015 Memorial Cup Champion goaltender Ken Appleby was overlooked in two NHL drafts before the New Jersey Devils signed him to a free agent deal last summer.
However, Carleton Place Canadians goaltender Colton Point is hoping to end 10 years of North Bay draft drought on Saturday at the NHL Draft which takes place this Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, New York.
The former North Bay Midget AAA Trappers goaltender is currently rated fourth in North American Goaltender's by NHL’s Central Scouting in their final draft ranking.
Marquardt took Don Cherry’s advise and didn’t risk traveling to Vancouver in 2006 only to be potentially disappointed. Point though isn’t afraid of traveling 4 1/2 hours south to hopefully hear his name called in Buffalo.
"I'm feeling confident that I'll be selected,” Point told BayToday.ca on Thursday afternoon.
“I've heard a lot of good things from many people. I'm excited to take the next step in my career, but if things don't turn out it’s not the end of the world, many good goaltenders in the NHL are undrafted."
Point's memorable first season of Junior 'A' Hockey included a CCHL title, a Fred Page Cup championship, along with a birth into the RBC Cup. The 2014 14th round Erie Otters draft pick has also committed to Colgate (NCAA Division I) for the upcoming season.
Troops represented well too
The North Bay Battalion could have as many as three players taken on the weekend. With Friday night all about the first round, the trio of Troops can expect to hear their name in the second to seventh round.
Battalion defenceman Cam Dineen, ranked 117th in the mid term rankings, skyrocketed to 39th among North American rankings by NHL Central Scouting.
The New Jersey native recorded 13 goals and 46 assists for 59 points in 68 regular season games.
"It’s exciting seeing my name that high, but it still doesn’t mean much,” Dineen said shortly after the rankings were released in the spring.
“I just have to keep working hard and see what happens.”
His teammate Justin Brazeau continues to intrigue scouts with his large frame. The 6’4” New Liskeard product moved from 207th in the mid term rankings to 179th in the final rankings.
“It’s a great feeling to be recognized for all my hard work this season,” said Brazeau shortly after the final rankings were released.
“It will definitely help boost your confidence whenever you’re recognized by people from the next level. Now I just have to keep working hard and see what happens.”
Brazeau’s intriguing size even prompted a Vancouver Canucks blog called canuckway.com to write about the giant Battalion forward.
See that write-up here: https://thecanuckway.com/2016/06/07/vancouver-canucks-2016-nhl-draft-profile-rw-justin-brazeau/
Battalion German import forward Max Kislinger fell from 194th in North American Skaters to just outside the top 230.
BayToday.ca’s Chris Dawson and Ranjan Rupal will be at the Draft in Buffalo, New York with up to the minute coverage on Saturday during rounds two through seven.
